In this episode of Dr. VR, I’m joined by filmmaker and immersive creator Omid Zarei to explore how virtual reality gives ordinary encounters an unexpected depth.

Through his work on A Vocal Landscape and Reality Looks Back, we discuss how immersive storytelling invites us into the spaces between what people say, what they mean, and what we understand. Omid shares his approach to making technology feel invisible, embracing imperfection, and creating experiences where listening and being present become meaningful forms of participation.

A conversation about human connection, the uncertainty of perception, and the creative possibilities of VR.

For the 10th anniversary of Venice Immersive, I’m joined by curators Liz Rosenthal and Michel Reilhac to reflect on how immersive storytelling has evolved—and where it may be heading next.

What began as a field largely defined by VR technology has expanded into mixed reality, virtual worlds, installations, spatial audio, collective experiences, and emerging forms of XR. But perhaps the most important evolution is not technological at all.

In this episode, we discuss embodiment, presence, audience agency, the shift from empathy toward witnessing, the growing importance of social experiences, the emotional power of sound, and why immersive creators are moving beyond technological novelty toward more subtle and sophisticated forms of storytelling.

After ten years of experimentation, is immersive media finally developing a language of its own?

In this episode of Dr. VR, I sit down with Ferryman Collective co-founders Stephen Butchko and Deirdre Lyons to discuss the journey that led to their Emmy-nominated production, Uncanny Alley: A New Day, a live cyberpunk VR theatre experience created in collaboration with Rick Treweek and Virtual Worlds Company.

We look back at Ferryman’s evolution from its early experiments in social VR to internationally recognized productions, and explore how human connection, embodiment, improvisation, and audience participation have shaped their approach to immersive storytelling.

Most importantly, we discuss what the Emmy nomination means, not only for Ferryman Collective, but for live VR theatre as an emerging artistic medium.

Can recognition from the Television Academy help immersive performance reach a wider audience?

What happens when an independent, creator-led VR production stands alongside major entertainment companies?

And could this moment signal a broader shift in how we define television, theatre, gaming, and interactive storytelling?

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